Defense

“Seven Rafale jets will arrive in India by April or May. The aircraft is capable of reaching up to the speed of 1800 kmph. I flew in a Rafale jet at the speed of 1300 kmph. The credit for the successful acquisition of the jets goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Singh said while addressing reporters here.

The two-day CORPAT will be followed by the maiden edition of bilateral exercise at Visakhapatnam from October 12 to 16.
A Defence Ministry release on Friday said that INS Ranvijay, a guided-missile destroyer and INS Kuthar, an ingeniously built missile corvette are participating in CORPAT along with Bangladesh frigate BNS Ali Haider and guided-missile corvette BNS Shadinota.

Soon, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the flying drone units and its Ground Control Station (GCS) shall provide enhanced Air Warfare capabilities like Target Identification/Target Designation, Target Tracking, optimum Attack manoeuvre and autonomous combat engagements etc. Technically, with some more advancement in drone avionics supported by AI, it is a matter of few decades that UCAVs may substitute fighter jets in some areas of Air Force operations.

At such high altitude, one of the challenges our soldiers face is the shortage of oxygen. But now an elderly couple from Pune has done their bit to make the lives a litter easier for our soldiers in Siachen. Four years after they undertook the work of setting up an oxygen-generation plant in Siachen for the Indian Army, the couple has fulfilled their commitment with the inauguration of the camp this month.

The Army is working on a 10-year modernisation plan for its Aviation Corps and aims to induct at least 350 helicopters, including the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter and the battle-proven Apache. The long-pending plan includes increasing the surveillance features of the choppers already in the Aviation Corps’ inventory, with the induction of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).

While the factory in Amethi was formally inaugurated in March, orders are yet to be placed as they had to go through the acquisition process of negotiating technical and commercial terms. The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited joint venture for production of AK 203 assault rifles is likely to get the go-ahead at an acquisition meeting later this month and will move to the next stage of signing of the contract to start manufacturing.

INS ‘Mysore’ (D60) is the second ship of the Delhi-class guided missile destroyers and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on June 2, 1999. One of the largest warships designed and built in India, she displaces 6,700 tonnes and is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (about 55kmph). A press statement issued by the embassy noted that Indian naval ships have been frequently visiting Qatar in the framework of the deep-rooted friendly ties and multi-faceted and growing co-operation between India and the State of Qatar”.

The aircraft—the first of 36 ordered by India—was received by defence minister Rajnath Singh on a day the Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 87th founding day. Singh, who arrived in Paris on Monday, later travelled to Bordeaux in south-western France to the Mérignac facility of Dassault Aviation SA, the maker of the Rafale, for the formal handover event. He was joined by French defence minister Florence Parly and several senior officials. After the handover, Singh also flew a sortie in the aircraft.

The participating contingents, comprising 45 members each, marched in together at the Shivneri Drill ground of the station. The parade was commanded by Major MS Negi, who is part of the participating Indian contingent. The Marine troops of Maldivian National Defence Force represented the Maldivian contingent, while a battalion of the MAHAR regiment represented the Indian side.

The IAF has said Pakistan’s “false claim” of shooting down a Sukhoi-30MKI was an attempt to cover up for the loss of its own aircraft, an American-made F-16, which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down before the Russian-origin MiG-21 Bison that he piloted fell to enemy fire. Wing Commander Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down the Pakistani F-16.